Andrew Saxton
Andrew Saxton | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 11, 1964 North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, former politician |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for North Vancouver (2008–2015), CEO of King George Financial Corporation |
Andrew Saxton (born March 11, 1964) is a Canadian entrepreneur and former politician who represented North Vancouver as a MP from 2008 until 2015. Affiliated with the Conservative Party, he unsuccessfully contested the party leadership in 2017 and sought re-election in the 2019 federal polls without success.
Early life and education
Saxton was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the son of a Hungarian immigrant father who arrived in Canada in 1947 and established himself as a prosperous businessman. Saxton completed his secondary education with distinction at Upper Canada College in 1982, where he also undertook leadership responsibilities. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Administrative and Commercial Studies with a focus on Finance from the University of Western Ontario in 1986, a degree now classified as Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies (BMOS - Finance).
Early career
His professional journey in finance commenced at Credit Suisse in Switzerland, followed by a tenure in New York City where he advanced to assistant treasurer. Returning to Vancouver, Saxton later moved to Hong Kong in 1994 to serve as senior account manager at HSBC. By 1997, he had been elevated to senior vice-president of HSBC Private Banking based in Singapore.
Prior to entering politics, Saxton held the position of CEO at King George Financial Corporation, specializing in real estate investments, and served on the board of Canaco Resources Inc., a mineral exploration enterprise. His community engagement included roles such as director for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon, membership on the BC Premier's Asia Pacific Trade Council, and founding president of the Pacific Club.
Political career
Elected to Canada's House of Commons during the 2008 Canadian federal election, Saxton secured re-election in 2011. His parliamentary roles included serving as parliamentary secretary to both the President of the Treasury Board and subsequently to the Minister for Western Economic Diversification. In September 2013, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
He contributed to significant parliamentary committees such as Public Accounts and Finance, and took leadership positions within multiple parliamentary friendship groups—acting as vice-chair for the Canada-China Legislative Association and chairing groups focused on Canada-Hong Kong, Canada-Malaysia, and Canada-Brunei relations.
Saxton was defeated by Liberal candidate Jonathan Wilkinson in the 2015 Canadian federal election and failed to reclaim his seat against Wilkinson in the 2019 election. During the 2017 Conservative Party leadership contest, Saxton finished in 13th place.
Post-political career
Following his departure from politics, Saxton returned to business leadership roles. He currently holds executive positions including CEO of King George Financial Corporation, President of Saxton Capital Corporation, and President of Upper Island Development Ltd.
Awards
In recognition of his community contributions, Saxton was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Additionally, Hungary bestowed upon him the Order of Merit in 2016 for his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between Canada and Hungary.
Related topics
Additional resources
- 1964 births
- Canadian people of Hungarian descent
- Conservative Party of Canada MPs
- Living people
- Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia
- People from North Vancouver
- Upper Canada College alumni
- HSBC people
- University of Western Ontario alumni
- 21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada